The 2014 Winter Olympics officially takes place in Russia in February, but my family has already started our own family Olympics of sorts right here at home. No, we’re not skiing or speed skating. We live in Northern Florida, so that would be kind of hard. Instead we’re doing push-up challenges, timing our planks, and more all in the name of fun!
Family Fitness Activity: Planning a Winter Olympics Challenge Read More »
New Year’s Eve is always a fun night for adults but the fun doesn’t have to stop when you have kids. Over the years planning a fun New Year’s Eve has been challenging, especially when the kids were toddlers-an age where they wouldn’t last until midnight, and loud noise or music would keep them up or wake them up.
Celebrating New Year’s Eve With Children Read More »
Many families pick up and go during Thanksgiving and winter break. That means many parents may want ideas on how to keep the kids entertained before the vacation begins. With a little planning, you can avoid a trip full of whining or fighting kids and hearing “Are we there yet?” on a loop. With these tips, the fun will begin before you arrive.
Five Tips to Keep Kids Happy on a Family Road Trip Read More »
The last week of September is National Dog Week. When we became pet parents, it was a big deal. We had three kids, a busy life, and we loved to get away for a weekend. Much like having a baby, there is learning and adjusting to having pets around. You have to house train them,
The Benefits of Playing with Your Dog Read More »
I’ll admit. We don’t follow a schedule during the summer months. We spend nine months of the year adhering to a pretty tight and busy schedule with the kids. During our summer off, we all want to relax. I pretty much let the kids go to bed at any time. Sometimes I fall asleep before
Three Back to School Transition Tips for Parents Read More »
I’ve realized that there is no rhyme or reason to what makes my kids get along with one another on any given day. It doesn’t matter that two of my children are 15 months apart or that the oldest is at least three years older than his siblings. What I’ve noticed, however, is that some
How to Help Siblings to Get Along Read More »
I have a tween that is too cool for everything, and I’m starting to think that includes playing. These days it seems all he wants to do is lounge around or sit in front of a computer. Each day we have the same conversation. He’s capped at two hours per day on the computer, a
Birthday party planning with three kids—not exactly the easiest task even if the birthdays are spread out throughout the year. For me, my challenges are keeping the birthday party on budget and also coming up with a whole new idea three times each year, every year! My kids have no interest in having the same
Planning a Birthday Party When You Have Multiple Kids Read More »
As a mom of three, there are no shortages of fights, bickering, and finger pointing between my children. My kids mostly enjoy each other’s company, but we have our fair share of not getting along. It’s never the same two fighting against each other, which is somewhat of a relief. And usually, they get along
Time to Play: Tips for Getting Siblings to Play Nice Together Read More »
Last spring, we transformed our backyard into a play and relaxation space for our family. We hadn’t done much with the yard other than make sure we had green grass and space. In Florida, you can begin to sow your seeds as early as February or March, so we got busy and started getting our
Time to Play: Spring Gardening Read More »
Cold weather can make it hard to find fun things to do with the kids. Every weekend may start to feel like Groundhog Day. So how can you keep kids active in the winter? Try a family bowling night! Bowling is a fun activity for children as young as 4 years old. The rules are
Time to Play: Family Bowling Night Read More »
Social play is a great way to teach children about important moments in history and the diverse fabric that has shaped American culture. On January 21, 2013, we will be honoring Dr. Martin Luther King for MLK day. The holiday offers parents a great opportunity to teach their children about Dr. King. There are a variety of ways to engage and educate your children that are fun and incorporate play, reading skills, and active, hands-on learning.
Learning About Dr. King Through Social Play and Service Read More »
With winter break quickly approaching, I know many parents are wondering what to do with the kiddos this holiday. There are holiday menus to plan, Christmas gifts to finish buying, and plenty of work to be done before family arrives or trips are taken. Even though we live in Florida and enjoy the outdoors, I admit we tend to hibernate in the winter. To keep myself and the children entertained and active when the weather is chilly, I try to find a variety of indoor activities to keep the children entertained and busy without getting cabin fever. Here are a few suggestions of three fun things to do during winter break.
Three Fun Activities to Do During Winter Break Read More »
With the cooler weather in the south, many children and parents are getting a nice relief from the blazing sun. It creates a perfect time for families to get outdoors, get active, and play together! On a nice day, one of our favorite things to do is to go fishing. It allows us to spend
Fishing for Something Fun to Do? Read More »
My family and I love fall. It kicks off the holiday season with one of our favorite holidays, Halloween. It seems like the first 10 months of the year are so busy with the hustle and bustle of life. But once you see the pumpkin patches popping up around neighborhoods, you know that fall festivals, turkey trots, sleigh riding, and Christmas tree shopping is right around the corner. The holidays and the change in season gives families an opportunity for new, fresh ways to play and spend quality time with the family. You’ll interact in ways not usually available other times of the year.
Time to Play: Fun Halloween Crafts Read More »
When I was 11 years-old, my parents could not keep me inside the house. Hot, cold, rain, or shine, as soon as homework was done, I would run outside and meet my neighborhood friends. I don’t remember exactly what we would do, but it did not matter. We wanted to play. We wanted fresh air, our bicycles,
Time to Play: Balancing Electronic Fun with “Old-Fashioned” Play Read More »
